Amazing encounter with a flock of Swifties
Bruny Island
Both species have very similar habitats in that wintering period. One day, I went for a drive down to Sydney, and on my way back, I'd heard there were some Swift Parrots in the area.
Now, I'd never seen them before. I've lived in Tasmania for a number of years. I bought a conservation block just outside of Hobart, that is, with Swift Parrot habitat, but I'd never seen one. And I stopped into this site, just south of Newcastle, and I saw my first Swift Parrot. But it wasn't one, it was 200! This was about 2017 or 18, and it's probably one of the largest flocks that's been seen for that species in a number of years.
They were very low, they were feeding on Swamp Mahogany, and just chattering away and roosting for the night. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've seen for a long time.
Then on a morning in 2023, I came to Bruny Island, and I saw 16 or so Swift Parrots looking around in search for hollows just on the northern side of Bruny, and that's the first time I've seen Swift Parrots here in Tasmania. And that's one my special experiences with nature, but I've got plenty more. I do love Parrots, and I have to say, they are amazing, amazing birds.
Lyndel Wilson
Both species have very similar habitats in that wintering period. One day, I went for a drive down to Sydney, and on my way back, I'd heard there were some Swift Parrots in the area.
Now, I'd never seen them before. I've lived in Tasmania for a number of years. I bought a conservation block just outside of Hobart, that is, with Swift Parrot habitat, but I'd never seen one. And I stopped into this site, just south of Newcastle, and I saw my first Swift Parrot. But it wasn't one, it was 200! This was about 2017 or 18, and it's probably one of the largest flocks that's been seen for that species in a number of years.
They were very low, they were feeding on Swamp Mahogany, and just chattering away and roosting for the night. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've seen for a long time.
Then on a morning in 2023, I came to Bruny Island, and I saw 16 or so Swift Parrots looking around in search for hollows just on the northern side of Bruny, and that's the first time I've seen Swift Parrots here in Tasmania. And that's one my special experiences with nature, but I've got plenty more. I do love Parrots, and I have to say, they are amazing, amazing birds.
You might like...
Saving Forty Spotted Pardalote chicks from blood-sucking maggots!
A critical problem for Forty Spotted Pardalotes breeding is a native fly which lays its eggs inside their nests. When the eggs hatch, the maggots come out and burrow under the skin of the 40-Spotted Pardalote nestlings and suck their blood. But a unique conservation project might have found a solution
How to use Kuno
Kuno is your platform to share a love of Earth. Here is a simple guide for how to use it.
Calling all Bruny Island Nature lovers!
Here is how to join an exciting project to ‘crowd-source’ an online field guide to the Natural history, wildlife, stories and challenges facing the Nature of Bruny Island - lunawannah-alonnah
A lifelong love for wildlife
Dr Eric Woehler has been asked a few times where his passion and interest came from. He grew up in Hobart in a caring home, but nature wasn’t something that was a thread in conversations. That inspiration happened at university.
Newsletter
Sign up to keep in touch with articles, updates, events or news from Kuno, your platform for nature